1996 - Volume #20, Issue #1, Page #10
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Big Square Bale Feeder
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Edwin Schaffner of Mondovi came up with the idea after trying to feed the square bales in a round bale feeder.
"I had to cut off a section of each bale just so that it would fit into the feeder. It was a lot of hassle. Cattle don't waste any more hay in my square bale feeder than they would in a round bale feeder, and there's no spoilage from rain or snow," says Schaffner, who feeds the bales to his 35 cows and 14 heifers.
The 10-ft. long, 4 1/2-ft. wide feeder has a swing-out gate on one side that's secured by two steel pins. He used 1-in. sq. steel tubing to build the feeder, which is chained to the wagon at each corner so it can be easily removed. A sheet metal base flares in-ward to help keep hay from falling out. The roof is galvanized tin and sheet metal.
"I spent $300 to $400 to build it," says Schaffner. "I use a chain to keep the wagon tongue out of manure. I mounted it on a wagon but it could also be put on skids. "I think big square bales are the wave of the future. I can stack big square bales four high in my pole barn and get three times as many bales in it as I can with round bales.
Schaffner will put plans together for a fee if there's enough interest.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Edwin M. Schaffner, West 898 City Road N.W., Mondovi, Wis. 54755 (ph 715 946-3267).
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